Dear Family,
As part of our ongoing pursuit of developing healthy relationships and keeping things in perspective, third grade classes listened to the story Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson. This is a book that teaches about conflict resolution and seeing ‘enemies’ in a new light, using common sense and a bit of humor. The dad in this story provides his son with a valuable lesson without lecturing to him, and instead arranges matters so that his son can learn on his own. Class discussions focused keeping an open mind when getting to know people, and not judging somebody based on what you "think" they are like. Usually we need to spend some time with a person to truly get to know them.
Developing kindness and compassion for others is a critical part of your child's growth. The ability to accept others, even if they are different, and feel compassion for them is an essential element of social competency and an important part of every child’s education. Socially competent children are more successful in life. The ability to relate to and accept others is not just a desired trait — it's a necessity for living in a diverse society. Children's social lives are complex and varied and there are many ways to be "successful" socially. Some children feel most comfortable with one or two close friends, whereas others prefer to be part of a large social network.
Most children eventually find their niche and are able to achieve their social goals. With the right mixture of empathy and involvement, parents can aid greatly in this process. To assist your child, explore a variety of social settings. Trouble connecting with schoolmates may be due to a mismatch of personalities or interests. Interests evolve and become more specific, and friendships often wane as children mature at different rates. Introducing your child to new and varied social circles like team sports, clubs, or youth groups may provide for a better social "fit."
Keeping oneself open to developing new friendships, even with ‘old’ classmates is a healthy approach. By exploring relationships with classmates who may be new to them this year, your child may develop a great friendship!
Sincerely,
Ms. Cahill
School Counselor
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